Angelo Muscat Movies

This is a video guide to the cult television show The Prisoner. Filmed in England, the series aired in 1968-1969, in 17 episodes, and is considered by many to be the best series ever to be shown on the medium of television. Patrick McGoohan was the show's creator and star. The story line follows a British security agent sent off to a community known as "the Village." The agent was given the impersonal title Number 6. Filled with intelligent dialogue and surreal imagery, the series drew an eclectic audience in England and America. This video offers some interpretations of the show, and answers to questions, such as, who was Number 1? And where is "the Village"? There is a behind-the-scenes look at production and interviews with the actors. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

Perhaps one of the most fascinating and maddening 48 minutes ever committed to television broadcast, "Fall Out" was the 17th and final episode of the British sci-fi/fantasy series The Prisoner. Having survived the ordeal of Degree Absolute in the previous episode "Once Upon a Time", Number Six is rewarded with the right to become an individual once more. With the begrudging blessing of the defeated Number Two (Leo McKern), Number Six is given back his original clothes, the key to his old house, a million pounds' worth of travellers cheques, and an international passport. But this is not enough for Number Six: He insists upon learning the identity of the enigmatic Number One, who was responsible for his ordeal in The Village. From this point on, the episode's already pervasive surrealism reaches a fever pitch, festooned with cryptic messages, verbal and visual puns, "reunions" with past antagonists, Beatles tunes in the background, and various "types" wandering around in white masks. One of these masked figures is the elusive Number One. . .and that's all that can be said without giving the game away (if indeed, the game could ever be given away). Written and directed by series star Patrick McGoohan, "Fall Out" was originally telecast in England on February 4, 1968, and in America on September 21, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

First broadcast in England on January 21, 1968, "The Girl Who Was Death" was written by Terence Feely, from an idea by David Tomblin, producer of The Prisoner and director of this episode. Again mysteriously transported from The Village, Number Six finds himself in an isolated lighthouse with a girl named Sonia (Justine Lord) who by some fluke of fate has apparently caused the deaths of at least three men. Referring to herself as "Death", Sonia insists that she and Number Six are made for each other, inasmuch as he has survived so many previous attempts on his life. As the story progresses, it becomes painfully obvious that the so-called lighthouse is actually a nuclear missile, designed by Sonia's demented father (Kenneth Griffith) to destroy London. Originally intended as a two-part episode, "The Girl Who Was Death" was diminished to a single installment because of star Patrick McGoohan's commitment to the theatrical feature Ice Station Zebra; in fact, McGoohan is absent from much of the proceedings, requiring the producers to use doubles and stock shots for certain linking scenes. The episode made its American TV debut on September 7, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this episode of the allegorical television series The Prisoner, No. 6 (Patrick McGoohan) discovers a new sort of danger has come to the Village, while a carnival attempts to distract the villagers from their gloom. No. 6 recognizes a new resident, and learns that he is being tortured by No. 2 (Marn Morris) in order to learn the truth about No. 6 and his past. As both No. 6 and the newcomer are subjected to interrogation to find out what they know, a body washes up on the beach, which No. 6 discovers has a radio in his pocket. Will he be able to get the radio to work and find out what's happanmed in the outside world? And can he somehow send a signal to the people outside the Village about his plight? ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The fine line between knowledge and insight becomes a battleground in this episode of the classic British television series The Prisoner. Number Six (Patrick McGoohan) becomes aware of a strange new innovation created by scientists in the Village -- a type of brain implant that allows the subject to readily absorb information, but eliminates their ability to process their own thoughts. The role of Number Two is played in this episode by Colin Gordon, with Betty McDowell and John Castle heading up the supporting players. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The celebrated "election episode" of The Prisoner, "Free For All" was directed by series star Patrick McGoohan, and also written by him under the pen name of Paddy Fitz. While the Village gears up for the election of the New Number Two, Number Six is encouraged to throw his hat in the ring. Curiously, Number Six is nominated by the incumbent, Number Two (Eric Portman) himself. At first balking at the "honor", Number Six is persuaded to run on the promise that, if elected, he will learn the identity of Number One --- thereby earning his freedom. Rachel Herbert plays the crucial role of maidservant Number Fifty Eight. "Free For All" made its British TV bow on October 22, 1967, and was first telecast in America on June 29, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Written by Roger Woddis, this episode of The Prisoner guest stars Patrick Cargill (also seen in the previous episode "Free for All") as super sadistic New Number Two. Delighting in tormenting the villagers, Number Two drives at least one of them, Number 73 (Hilary Dwyer), to suicide. Hoping to avenge the woman's death, Number Six begins his own campaign of psychological warfare, utilizing such "weapons" as his collection of Bizet recordings! In addition to resembling an installment of the much later CBS series, Survivor, this episode also predates American Gladiators by offering an "extreme sport" known as Kosho. Originally slated as the 14th episode of The Prisoner, "Hammer into the Anvil" was seen as episode number 10 when it first aired in England on December 10, 1967. It was placed in its original chronology for American television, where it was first seen on August 31, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Number Six learns of an impending assassination, "Plan Division Q," in which the target is the Retiring Number Two (Andre Van Gyseghem). Actually, these plans were deliberately divulged by the New Number Two (Derren Nesbitt), who hopes thereby to discredit Number Six. With no one willing to believe that an assassination is about to take place, Number Six finds that his fate may rest in the hands of a watchmaker (Martin Miller) and his daughter (Annette Andre). Written by Michael Cramoy, "It's Your Funeral" was supposed to have been the 10th episode of The Prisoner, but instead was telecast in England as episode number 11 on December 17, 1967. Its original chronology was restored when it debuted in America on August 10, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having been kidnapped and drugged after resigning his position, a British intelligence agent (Patrick McGoohan) awakens in the Village (a mysterious, Orwellian community). Now known as Number Six, he is expected to provide information to the enigmatic Number Two (Guy Doleman) if he ever hopes to escape the Village and return home. Things take an even more perplexing turn when Cobb (Paul Eddington), an old friend of Number Six, suddenly shows up...and just as suddenly kills himself. In one of her last appearances, (Virginia Maskell) guest-stars as "the Woman." "The Arrival" was co-written by series producer David Tomblin and George Markstein. This inaugural episode of The Prisoner first aired in England on October 1, 1967, and in America on June 1, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

You've seen the Disney classic, now experience the tale of Alice in Wonderland as never before in this live-action adaptation of the timeless tale from the BBC and director Jonathan Miller. Capturing all of the menace and wonder of Lewis Carroll's age-old classic while injecting the story with a pinch of subversive Victorian gothic satire, this surreal updating of the children's fantasy classic features an all-star cast including Sir Michael Redgrave, Sir John Gielgud, Leo McKern, Peter Cook, Peter Sellers, and Alan Bennett. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

In the concluding episode of the four-part story "Galaxy 4," time is running out on the planet Galaxy, as it edges even closer to its inevitable destruction. If he hopes to escape with the lives of himself and his traveling companions, the Doctor (William Hartnell) must quickly negotiate a truce between the planet's two warring factions. The climax of the story serves as a logical lead-in to the next episode, "Mission to the Unknown." Written by William Emms, "The Exploding Planet" originally aired on October 2, 1965; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Galaxy 4," the Rills and the Dravins of the planet Galaxy continue their centuries-old feud as their planet draws nearer and nearer to destruction. Inasmuch as both races hope to use the TARDIS to make their escape, it is only logical that the Doctor's traveling companion Steven (Peter Purves) is taken hostage. In trying to rescue their friend, the Doctor and Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) must first locate the Rill stronghold. Written by William Emms, "Trap of Steel" originally aired on September 18, 1965; this episode apparently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide